Kool-Aid Man
Kool-Aid Man — frequently asked questions
- Is Kool-Aid Man on Steam?
- No. Kool-Aid Man is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.
- What platforms is Kool-Aid Man on?
- Kool-Aid Man is available on Atari 2600, Intellivision.
- When did Kool-Aid Man release?
- Kool-Aid Man was first released on December 31, 1983.
About Kool-Aid Man
Help Kool-Aid Man in a battle with the Thirsties! Those insatiable Thirsties are stealing the water out of your swimming pool. You want to catch em when they stop to dip their straws in the pool. Also, help Kool-Aid Man gobble up Kool-Aid ingredients in order to keep the Thirsties from bouncing Kool-Aid Man around the backyard.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Atari 2600, Intellivision
- Developer
- Mattel Electronics
- Publisher
- Mattel Electronics
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
- Series
- Kool-Aid
Details via IGDB.
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Built by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atari 2600 | 1983 | $15 | $56 | $141 | Graphics ★★ · Play-Action ★★ | Mattel (designed by Steve Tatsumi) |
Also released on: Intellivision. We haven’t priced or authenticated that version yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Atari 2600 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-06
Release record
| Territory | Label | Catalog # | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America M Network | Black | MT4648 | Scarce+ |
Source: Catalog numbers, label types, rarity, controllers and player counts: AtariAge 2600 software database
- Region
- NA
- Released
- 1983
- Controller
- Atari Joystick
- Players
- 1
- Authenticity
- Low
A mail-order advergame turned retail release, and a fun piece of 1980s branding at a low price.
Mattel made two different Kool-Aid Man games in 1983, one for its own Intellivision and one for the Atari 2600, released under the M Network label. Each is its own design. Steve Tatsumi designed the 2600 version.
The game was first available only by mail order, and later went on sale in ordinary shops.
How it was made
Designed by Steve Tatsumi for Mattel and published under the M Network label in 1983. The Intellivision Kool-Aid Man is a separate game by a different team.
What the press said at the time
| Computer Entertainer Vol. 2 No. 7 | October 1983 | Graphics ★★ · Play-Action ★★ |
“KOOL-AID MAN is definitely for small children only. For anyone over the age of seven or eight, this game is dumb and boring.”
Computer Entertainer rated graphics first and play action second, from four symbols (excellent) to one (poor) — stars in most years, diamonds in 1986–87 — comparing each game only with other games for the same system.
Cartridge & preservation record
Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.
Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.
How the Atari 2600 version differs
The 2600 and Intellivision Kool-Aid Man games are different designs: the 2600 cartridge is a simple arcade-style action game, while the Intellivision game is a more complex adventure.
Also on other platforms
Intellivision
| Atari 2600 | Mattel (designed by Steve Tatsumi) |
- Intellivision. In the Intellivision game the player first controls two children searching a three-story house for a pitcher, sugar and Kool-Aid mix while avoiding Thirsties, then takes control of Kool-Aid Man to capture them, all against a ten-minute timer.
Worth knowing
- EG stood corrected. When Electronic Games claimed that "Mr. Kool-Aid never came out as a game", a reader replied in March 1985 that "Kool-Aid Man (aka, Mr. Kool-Aid) came out for both the 2600 and Intellivision." The editor answered: "we stand corrected."
Before you buy
Low risk, with no documented reproductions. Loose carts are cheap. Boxed and sealed copies cost noticeably more, so check condition before paying for one. If you play on a 7800, note that AtariAge's FAQ names Kool-Aid Man among the few games some later NTSC 7800s have trouble with; a 2600 or a 1984-built 7800 should be fine.
Kool-Aid Man screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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